[[Image:PlasmaTorp.jpg|thumb|right|The Romulans launch their glowing blob of death.]]A '''plasma torpedo''' is a short-ranged, high-yield weapon used by the [[Romulan Star Empire]] in the 23rd century. First seen in the [[TOS]] episode "Balance of Terror", these weapons were extremely effective against [[Federation]] [[starbase]]s along the [[Romulan Neutral Zone|Neutral Zone]].

[[Image:PlasmaTorp.jpg|thumb|right|The Romulans launch their glowing blob of death.]]A '''plasma torpedo''' is a short-ranged, high-yield weapon used by the [[Romulan Star Empire]] in the 23rd century. First seen in the [[TOS]] episode "Balance of Terror", these weapons were extremely effective against [[Federation]] [[starbase]]s along the [[Romulan Neutral Zone|Neutral Zone]].

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==Quote==

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"We're a mile deep on an asteroid. Almost solid iron. And even through our deflectors, it did this." <br />

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--Commander of Federation Neutral Zone Outpost 4

==Nature==

==Nature==

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During a briefing following the initial attacks on Neutral Zone outposts, Spock described what was known about the Romulan weapon. According to [[Starfleet]] researchers, the weapon was an "enveloping plasma" that caused its targets to implode. One plasma torpedo was sufficient to destroy the shields and weapons of a Federation outpost, and a second torpedo shattered the asteroid on which the outpost was built. One torpedo also damaged the fully-shielded ''[[Enterprise]]'', even though much of the torpedo's energy had dissipated due to range.

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During a briefing following the initial attacks on Neutral Zone outposts, Spock described what was known about the Romulan weapon. According to [[Starfleet]] researchers, the weapon was an "enveloping plasma" that caused its targets to implode. One plasma torpedo was sufficient to destroy the shields and weapons of a Federation outpost, and a second torpedo shattered the asteroid on which the outpost was built. One torpedo also damaged the fully-shielded ''[[Enterprise]]'', even though much of the torpedo's energy had dissipated due to range. The weapon's power is certainly impressive: the destruction of a nickel-iron asteroid of at least two miles diameter could easily require hundreds of megatons of energy,<ref>Estimated using the [http://stardestroyer.net/Resources/Calculators/AsteroidDestruction.html SDN Asteroid Destruction Calculator] for a 3200m diameter nickel-iron asteroid.</ref> which would certainly be an achievable energy yield for a space-faring civilization.<ref>[[Trektard]]s, however, often inflate this estimate to '''gigatons''', for no substantial reason.</ref>

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Even though it is capable of overtaking a [[Constitution-class|''Constitution''-class]] starship in full retreat, a plasma torpedo has a relatively limited range. Only [[cloaking device|cloaking]] technology enabled the Romulan ship to get into effective range of its targets. As noted above, a plasma torpedo lost so much energy pursuing the fleeing ''Enterprise'' that when it finally struck, it no longer had enough energy to destroy the target.

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Even though it is capable of overtaking a [[Constitution-class|''Constitution''-class]] starship in full retreat, a plasma torpedo has a relatively limited range. Only [[cloaking device|cloaking]] technology enabled the [[Romulan Bird of Prey|Romulan ship]] to get into effective range of its targets. As noted above, a plasma torpedo lost so much energy pursuing the fleeing ''Enterprise'' that when it finally struck, it no longer had enough energy to destroy the target.

[[Lieutenant]] [[Hikaru Sulu|Sulu]] believed that a single [[phaser]] shot would be sufficient to detonate a plasma torpedo prematurely. He did not actually get to test his idea, however, since his ship's phasers were off line at the time.

[[Lieutenant]] [[Hikaru Sulu|Sulu]] believed that a single [[phaser]] shot would be sufficient to detonate a plasma torpedo prematurely. He did not actually get to test his idea, however, since his ship's phasers were off line at the time.

==Obsolescence==

==Obsolescence==

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The Romulans stopped using plasma torpedoes on their starships after a technology exchange with the Klingons. In the 24th century, Romulan ships carry [[disruptor]]s and [[photon torpedo|photon torpedoes]]. The range limitations and high energy consumption of plasma torpedoes may have lead to their being replaced.

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The Romulans stopped using plasma torpedoes on their starships after a technology exchange with the Klingons. In the 24th century, Romulan ships carry [[disruptor]]s and [[photon torpedo|photon torpedoes]]. The range limitations and high energy consumption of plasma torpedoes may have lead to their being replaced. The ''Enterprise'' was also able to survive hits from plasma torpedoes in "The Deadly Years", indicating that Federation engineers had made some progress in improving shield performance against them.

Plasma torpedoes continued to be used to protect ground installations and on [[orbital defense platform]]s. It is unknown if these weapons are identical to the TOS-era torpedo or a derivative design.

Plasma torpedoes continued to be used to protect ground installations and on [[orbital defense platform]]s. It is unknown if these weapons are identical to the TOS-era torpedo or a derivative design.

Contents

Quote

"We're a mile deep on an asteroid. Almost solid iron. And even through our deflectors, it did this."
--Commander of Federation Neutral Zone Outpost 4

Nature

During a briefing following the initial attacks on Neutral Zone outposts, Spock described what was known about the Romulan weapon. According to Starfleet researchers, the weapon was an "enveloping plasma" that caused its targets to implode. One plasma torpedo was sufficient to destroy the shields and weapons of a Federation outpost, and a second torpedo shattered the asteroid on which the outpost was built. One torpedo also damaged the fully-shielded Enterprise, even though much of the torpedo's energy had dissipated due to range. The weapon's power is certainly impressive: the destruction of a nickel-iron asteroid of at least two miles diameter could easily require hundreds of megatons of energy,[1] which would certainly be an achievable energy yield for a space-faring civilization.[2]

Even though it is capable of overtaking a Constitution-class starship in full retreat, a plasma torpedo has a relatively limited range. Only cloaking technology enabled the Romulan ship to get into effective range of its targets. As noted above, a plasma torpedo lost so much energy pursuing the fleeing Enterprise that when it finally struck, it no longer had enough energy to destroy the target.

LieutenantSulu believed that a single phaser shot would be sufficient to detonate a plasma torpedo prematurely. He did not actually get to test his idea, however, since his ship's phasers were off line at the time.

Obsolescence

The Romulans stopped using plasma torpedoes on their starships after a technology exchange with the Klingons. In the 24th century, Romulan ships carry disruptors and photon torpedoes. The range limitations and high energy consumption of plasma torpedoes may have lead to their being replaced. The Enterprise was also able to survive hits from plasma torpedoes in "The Deadly Years", indicating that Federation engineers had made some progress in improving shield performance against them.

Plasma torpedoes continued to be used to protect ground installations and on orbital defense platforms. It is unknown if these weapons are identical to the TOS-era torpedo or a derivative design.